Pendleton construction projects underway across city

Published 9:00 pm Monday, March 9, 2026

PENDLETON — Four construction projects are taking place across downtown Pendleton, affecting roads and access to public areas.

The city of Pendleton is running two of the projects at public parks, while the Oregon Department of Transportation is upgrading a road and the Pendleton Round-Up Association is making a change to Roy Raley Park. The four projects are between the Round-Up Arena and Southeast Second Street.

Roy Raley Park

The longest ongoing construction project is happening at Roy Raley Park. The city’s ice rink required upgrades because a sinkhole was forming where the rink was built over what used to be a city pool. Additionally, the local youth hockey association raised money to add safety boards to the rink.

Construction at the ice rink originally was planned for 2025, with completion planned before winter. However, due to delays because of the government shutdown, the project was pushed back. Now, city officials expect the project to be completed before next winter.

The city is spending about $850,000 on construction at the rink. The cost includes accessibility upgrades to the restrooms and the playground, as well as the longer and wider ice rink and dasher boards for the hockey teams. During the summer, residents can play on three pickleball courts the city will set up.

The new cooling system works similarly to heated flooring in a house and the hoses in the concrete should last for a long time. Todd Kligel, parks supervisor with Pendleton Parks and Recreation Department, said the system will save city employees a lot of time moving forward.

Before, the cooling coils had to be installed and removed each season, which took a significant amount of time and effort, Kligel said.

“The new system, it’s all in the concrete,” he said. “We’ll have minimal set up, build ice quicker and aren’t going to be wasting city funds.”

The other project is expanding the Pendleton Round-Up grounds into a small section of Roy Raley Park, which the city council as approved in October 2025. The construction likely will last into late spring or early summer, Pendleton Public Works Director Jeff Brown said.

“What the Round-Up’s doing on their side of the fence, not a clue,” he said. “But they’re doing the city side first, so it’ll be repaved and everything should be open to the public by the time that the weather gets really nice.”

At least one tree will be removed, Brown said, but removed trees will be replaced with as many or more in the park.

Centennial Park

In February, construction workers removed the concrete bins at Centennial Park, on the corner of South Main Street and Southeast Dorion Avenue. City manager Robb Corbett said the decision was made with input from the police chief after community members expressed concern about public safety in the downtown area.

Corbett said Chief Charles Byram told the city that vandalism and similar public safety problems were common at Brownfield Park and Centennial Park.

“We quickly identified that if we could just remove that planter (which serves as a concrete barrier), it would open up that area, so if anything is happening there that shouldn’t be happening, it would be open,” he said.

An added benefit to the change is the diagonal parking spaces on Dorion Avenue will be easier to back out of because the planters won’t block the view anymore.

The change offers an exciting opportunity for the city. The Arts Commission and Historic Preservation Commission inquired about the city’s plans for the space, Corbett said.

“The Parks Commission is going to ultimately make the final recommendation to the city on what we do there,” Corbett said. “I’m glad that there’s that much interest in that space.”

Dorion Avenue

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Transportation is working on changes to Dorion Avenue, mostly on the southwest side of the city.

Vicki Moles, Community Affairs Specialist for ODOT, said the primary purpose of the construction is to improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians. Construction crews are building curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure the state highways have sidewalks and roadways that meet current federal requirements.

The project is in phase two of five, Moles said, and likely will last into 2028. Phase two, which focuses on Dorion Avenue from Southwest 12th Street to Southeast Second Street and a few spots on Emigrant Avenue, will likely last through October of this year.

The construction will pause for large community tourism events including WhiskeyFest and the Pendleton Round-Up.

After the initial work on Dorion and Emigrant, ODOT will move on to construction projects in Union and Baker counties for phase three before returning to Pendleton to work on Court Avenue, Emigrant Avenue again, Frazer Avenue, Westgate and Northgate in phases four and five.

During the ongoing work on Dorion and Emigrant this year, Moles said drivers can expect traffic delays, lane closures and possibly even partial road closures. The crew will work east on the south side of the street before returning to 12th Avenue and working east on the north side of the street.

Access to businesses and pedestrian walkways will be maintained throughout the project.

“We’re really trying to do the right thing,” Moles said, “and in all of our communities make these upgrades to make sure everybody, whatever their accessibility needs are, can  move safely and independently through our transportation system.”